OK, folks, I’ve got something to say about the constant clamor about names, and groups wanting to defend their rights and freedoms. First, let us talk about all the controversy surrounding the name of the Washington Redskins, which if you read the newspapers has just been denied its federal trademark protections because its name is ‘racist’ and ‘insulting’ to ‘native’ Americans.

Let me make something perfectly clear. There are many more ‘native’ Americans than people think, for if you apply Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of ‘native,’ which states ‘born and raised in’ then I am a ‘native’ American. I was born in Saint Louis, Missouri, and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut. Both locations are in these United States.

However, while I AM a ‘native’ American I am NOT of Indian heritage. I am of Scottish and Irish heritage, and my ancestors arrived in this continent on the Mayflower. Having qualified myself, therefore, let me say here that as a real ‘native’ American I have no problem with the name of the Washington Redskins!

Many would say that the real issue here is how does a name impinge on someone’s rights? By almost all acceptable legal standards it doesn’t. On top of that, if I was an ‘Indian’ I believe that a football team’s name is the last thing I would be arguing about. That is, unless the real purpose here is for certain parties to try to make lots of money!

We need another clarification here. People from the Southeast Asian nation of India have their rights too. They would need to be consulted in all matters concerning ‘Indian” rights. So, American Indians need to call themselves just that: American Indians. So, to all Americans of ‘Indian’ heritage stand up and be proud of who you are!

Secondly, and essential to my argument here, I have a problem with all group in this nation which ‘hijacks’ words in the American language for their own purposes. Groups that promote their own ‘rights’ and lifestyles should be honest about it. Accuracy in choosing names is of the utmost importance.

What other group am I talking about? For those who have been in hiding for the past two decades or so, there is another such group that epitomizes this deliberate misnaming. Who is that? I’m glad you asked! It is those male homosexuals who use the term ‘gay’ to describe, promote, and yes, defend their lifestyle.

In Webster’s Dictionary, the original definition of being ‘gay' is being ‘happy and cheerful’, and being ‘of high spirit in energy and movement.’ Come on folks, being a male homosexual does not give you a monopoly on exhibiting any of those characteristic.

You see, folks, if I were to follow Webster’s definition, I might not mind being called ‘gay’ and I would gladly support the rights of everybody who wanted to be a ‘gay’ fellow, as used to be common in the past. The more I think about it, I find it extremely upsetting that my potential desire to have a “gay” lifestyle has been stolen by homosexuals. Maybe I should file a lawsuit!

Let’s be clear here. While I do not personally approve of the male homosexual lifestyle, I am by no means homophobic. In support of my argument here, I feel compelled to say that the majority of women who acknowledge being ‘lesbian’ have no trouble proclaiming themselves to be just that: ‘lesbians.’ Once again, groups clamoring for their rights need to get real and call a spade a spade.

Those who are truly concerned about the plight of Native Americans could focus on some of the very real problems that Native Americans face. A visit to an Indian reservation is a visit to the third world..That we are content to do nothing about the problem is a national disgrace.

Regional, the misnomer "Imdians" has been visited upon all of the peoples indigenous to the Western Hemisphere since Europeans discovered it. We can call people Georgians or Nevadans but we can't be troubled to call others Creek or Cherokee or Iroquois because they do not nestle properly in our established geo-political boundaries. And I guess male homosexuals should just go back to being "queers".

Fly, you are correct. The name of a football team pales in comparison to the indignities heaped upon Native Americans - to use Regional's not favorite description. Poverty, alcoholism, and a government agency unable and/or unwilling to administer funds due to these people, probably all rank higher on the list of concerns needing rectification.

Lumping people together has always been a problem. Georgians' are not South Carolinians', just as Chickasaws' are not Cheyennes'.

As my post makes very clear, and as these comments suggest, finding a name which truly represents the group making a statement is most important is of paramount importance.

Using a 'slur' to address any individual or any group is not acceptable under any conditions. Using the term 'homosexual' to describe someone who favors another male sexual partner is not using a slur but rather accurately describing their desires and actions.

the term "redskin" is what is offensive-back when there was a bounty on "indians" the term meant about the same as hide or pelt, which pretty much means they were worth more dead than alive- much like a beaver, wolf or a buffalo-the cleveland indians insultingly stupid looking character that they have on their caps is also offensive-

I think this blogger should check himself if he wants to keep his anonymity. You see, several people in one certain office have access to the account "Regional" - as a matter of fact, I am accidentally "logged in" as Regional and I did not write this blog!

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